Apparatus for preserving perishable substances



June 15 1926.

C. DE F. ORDWAY APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING PERISHABLE SUBSTANCES FiledApril 4 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES ATTORNEY June 15 1926. 1,589,215

c. DE F. ORDWAY APPARATUS 'FOR PRESERVING PERISHABLE `UBSTANCES FiledApril 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LNVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 15,1926.

UNITED stares 1,589,215 Parsnr orrics.

CHARLES DE FOREST ORDWAY, or BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING-PERISHABLE SUBSTANCES.

Application led April 4, 1925. Serial No.. 203853.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for preservingperishable .sub-

stances, as for instance, vegetables and fruits provide a preservingapparatus wherein an absorbing receiving member is provided and soarranged as to be readily removed at any time for cleaningfandsterilizing.

Another object of the invention is to provice a preserving apparatuswherein a container is presented having removable preserving membersmade either in one piece or a plurality of pieces all capable of easysterilizing.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of anapparatus disclosing an embodiment of the invention, certain parts beingshown re.

moved and disconnected.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figure 1, approximately on line 22.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through Figure 2 on line 3 3,the same being on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the preserving member shown in Figure2.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view or' the preserving member shown in Figure4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar `to Figui-e 4 but showing amodied form of preserving member.

Figure 7 is a view simllar to Figure 6 but showing a segment of apreserving member illustrating how the member may be divided into anumber of parts and then assembled when in use.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numeral, 1 indicates acontainer which may be o'f any material, including wood .if properlyenameled inside to prevent absorbing moisture, glass, earthenware andmetal, and any shape or size, either to open at the top or have a doorshutting tight, so if container has shelves to readily reach variouskinds of fruits and vegetables on the different shelves without removingof same. This container is open at the top and is preferably providedwiti a comparatively tight fitting cover 2. Arranged in the cover 2 is amoisture absorbing member 3 which may be blotting paper, asbestos orother material, said absorbing member 3 `being covered by a wire mesh 4to prevent breakage and to properly hold the same in functioningposition as shown in Figure 2. A bolt 5 is preferably provided andpositioned to extend through the cover 2, absorbing member 3 and thewire mesh 4 whereby these members are all removably held in place. f

As indicated in Figure 1, the absorbing member 3 is merely a disk ofasbestos or any other absorbent to absorb a certain mount of moisturefrom the contents of the container l. Under some circumstances, thevegetable or other substance 6 discharges too much moisture and to takecare of this condition a number of apertures 7 are provided inthecontainer 1 which are normally covered by the shutter 8 but the shuttermay be adjusted so that the various apertures 9 in the shutter willregister more or less with the apertures 7 and thereby providea propervent. Arranged at the bottom of the container 1 is what maybe termed apreserving member 10 and on this is placed a grid 11 which is preferablyformed of wire mesh and provided with several supporting legs 12 wherebythe vegetable or other substance 6 will be supported a short distanceabove the preserving member.

In manufacturing the preserving member, the same may be made severaldifferent ways while following the same general principle of providingmeans which will absorb a given quantity vof moisture and will, fromtime'to time, absorb more or give oft' some of the moisture previouslyabsorbed whereby the moisture content in the space occupied by thevegetables 6 will always be substantially constant and in this way causethe vegetables to be preserved or maintained intheir original state.

As indicated in Figures 2 and 4, the preserving member 10 is providedwith a tillingel of absorbing material which may be asbestos itiber andlire clay or other desired material which will secure the same results.Surrounding the filling 13 is a covering member 14 which consists of ametal bottom having split upstanding sides and top. The top of thecovering member 14 is provided with a large opening 15 which exposes alarge percentage of theupper surface of the` lilling 13, which uppersurface is covered by a wire mesh member 16. The various sections 10formed by the cutting of the coverlos ing 14 may be rcadily bent to oneside as the metall covering 14 is comparatively thin. When thesesections are bent to aposition out of the Way, the Wire mesh covering 16may be removed and if desired, the filling 13 may be removed. In use,ordinarily these members are not removed but the entire lpreservingmember 10 is placed in hot Water and maintained there until thetemperature thereof is substantially the same as the Water, afterivhich,it is placed inA an oven and baked so as to positively kill all oi' thegerms which may be adhered thereto. After this has been done and thepreserving member cooled, a supply ot' Water is provided for the filling13 but preferably the lilling 13 is not saturated in order that it'there is an excess of moisture from the substance which is to bepreserved', the filling 13 Will absorb the same Whereas if the reverseis true, the Water inthe iilling 13 will be given ott.

As indicated in Figure 5, the bottom of tlre cover 14 is provided with anumber oit apertures 17 in' order to provide a better circulation Whensterilizing and also When the device is in use.

In Figure 6, a preserving member 18 is provided formed of the samematerial as iill'ing 13 or other desired material but provided with anannular flange 1S) and a raised portion 20. lVhen this form ofpreserving member is used, the grid 11' is merely caused to rest on theflange 19, or if desired, the feet 12 caused to rest on the raisedportion 20.

In Figure 7, another form of the invention is provided wherein a segment21 is presented which is preferably one-fourth ot' the structure shownin Figure 6 so that four segments or blocks of this kind Will make adisk. The forms shown in Figures 6 and 7 will function properly when inuse but the form shown in Figure l is pref- -erabl'e in that there willnot be so much liability to chipping or breaking of the parts by reasonof the metallic covering 14. After the parts have all been properlysterilized and the iilling 13 provided With e certain quantity ofyWater, the fruit or vegetablesV 6 may be then placed in position asshown in Figures 1 and 2. It is always preferable to place substantiallya perfect fruit or vegetable in the container' 1 and they should also beclean and substantially dry or rather in their natural condition. It thefruit or vegetables are to be preservedV along time, it is desirable toinspect the same from time to time and to open or close the shutter 8according to the moisture evident When the device is eX- amined. Also,from time to time, as for instance, at the end of each two months, thefruit or vegetables should be removed and the container, absorbingmember 3 and preserving member 10 thoroughly sterilized and then thefruit or vegetables again placed in position as above described.

What I claim is:

l. In an apparatus of the character described, a preserving membercomprising a porous substance, and means for protecting the same againstbreakage While permitting the substance to freely absorb and give offmoisture, said means including a sheet metal plate litting over thebottom of the preserving member with extensions extendingr over the edgeand bent over the top of the preserving member, and a Wire mesh coveringfor the upper surface of said preserving member.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a preserving membercomprising an.

absorbing body, a metallic covering therefor, and a Yforaminousprotecting grid covering one surface, said covering member being formedwith an enclosing edge structure capable of being bent to permit theporous member to be removed.

CHARLES DE FOREST ORDIVAY.

